Controller for electric signs



April 115 Q 1924, 1,490,092

A. CENTONI CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNS Filed March 25. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BUY 26 SHQES A ril 15 1924. 1,490,092

A. CENTONI CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNS Filed March 25, 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 2 l'nz/enima' April 15, 1924.. 1,490,092

A. CENTONI CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNS Filed March 25. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 15, 1924. 1

UNITED STATES ANGELO CENTONI, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNS.

Application filed Ma10l b25, 1922. Serial No. 546,712.,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANGELO CENTONI, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, inrthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Controllers for Electric Signs, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to that class of changeable electric signs in which the display field of the sign is provided with a plurality. of closely arranged electric lamps, the individualcircuits of which extend to a remote switch board or station where circuits of groups of said lamps forming the desired letter or symbol .are automatically closed and the illumination of the same at- I tained by a. series of pattern plates carried by a travelling carrier, with such pattern plates having the required surface formation to simultaneously close the circuits of the lamps forming the desired letter or symbol. And the present improvement has for its objects: A

To provide a structural formation and association of parts and circuits, wherein a primary opening or breaking is effected in the main supply circuit, and from which in- 'dividual clrcults and circuit closers of the display field. lamps are supplied, previous to a movement of the operating mechanism by which a shifting 'of the pattern plates is effected, with an entire avoidance of the injurious sparking: at the aforesaid individual circuit closeis, with a confinement of the sparking action to the main switch, in which convenient means can be provided to damp- 'en and withstand the sparking effect.

To provide a construction. of travelling carrier of a sectional form, in which the adjacent ends of the sections are connected together in a hinged and disconnectable mannor 'to provide for ready removal and replacement, with each section having hold ing means .for a pattern plate formed to close the circuits of.a predetermined cluster oflampsin the display field of the sign and produce the desired letter or symbol in such mechanism embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2, is a front end elevation of the mechanism.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged detail longitiidinal section on line 3,-3, Fig, 2, the circuit con nections of the apparatus being shown in diagram. v

Fig. 4, is an enlarged detail horizontal section on line 4,'-4", Fig. 3. I

, Fig. 5, is-an enlarged detail longitudinal "section on line 5,5, Fig. 6.

Fig. 6, is an enlarged detail transverse section on line 6,6, Fig. 3.

Fig. 7, is a detail side elevation of the endless carrier with the pattern plates in position.

Fig. 8, is a bottom 'plan of same.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in-the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the supporting base provided with uprights or standards 2 and 3, the forward upright 2 of which is fixed on the base 1, while the rear upright 3 is connected to the base 1 in a longitudinally adjustable manner by guideways or rods 4 on said base, with a view to the proper tensioning of the travelling endless carrier of the machine, as well as provide for different lengths in said carrier as circumstances may indicate and as usual in the present class of mechanisms.

5 and 6 designate transverse shafts journalled in the upper ends of the standards 2, 3, and carrying drums 7 and 8 for the support of the endless pattern carrier here inafter described. I

9 designates a ratchet wheel fixed on the 'ating mechanisms by which intermittent travel is imparted to thedrum 7 and the endless carrier thereon,

'10 designates a transverse countershaft journalled on the standards 2 in spaced relation to theidrum shaft 5,'and receiving constant rotationthrough a reducing gear'connection 11,.from an electric or like moton 12 mounted on the-base 1, as shown.

13 designates a cam orwiper fixed on and revolving with the counter-shaft 10 and adapted for operative engagement with a head or bar 14' moving in vertical guides on,

the standards 2 aforesaid, to impart inter I nittent reciprocation to said headorbar.

15 designates a pawl preferably of the weighted type, pivoted at the'upper end of bar or head 14 and adapted for engagement with the ratchet; wheel 9 aforesaid, to impart the required intermittent rotation to the same.

' 1 6 designates the stationary member, and 17 the movable member of a switch ofany usual construction, arranged in the main supply line 18 of the apparatus, and in advance of the plurality of individual wires which extend through a corresponding plurality of individual switches, to the plural- Y ity of electric lamps in the display field of the sign, hereinafter described in detail.

' 19 designates a connecting rod .or link betweenthe aforesaid head or bar 14 and the movable member 17 of the switch, and adapted to open the circuit of said switch at the commencement of the upward movement of the head or bar 14, to shut off or break the electric supply to the aforesaid individual switches, previous to and during the shifting of a pattern plate out of operative position and itsreplacement by a succeeding stem having at its lower end a stop collar or head 22, and slidingly arranged in a vertical orifice in the bed plate 20 with its stop head 22 adapted to contact with a stop shoulder at the upper end of said orifice to limit the upward movement of t-he point or stem in actual use. r T

23 designates a coiled spring having hearing beneath the stop head 22 to yieldingly hold the point or stem 21 at the limit of its upward movement. v V

24; designates a vertical screw plug engaging the lower end of the orifice aforesaid,

and adapted to hold the spring 23 in place under tension. The plug 24 also provides a connection for an individual line wire 25 which extendsfto an individual lamp in the display field 37 of an electric sign. 1

26 designates a guide head of metal or like conducting material mounted in an insulated manner and in a transverse direction on the fixedstandard 2 aforesaid, in spaced relation above the'bed plate or board 20 above described. At its respective sides the guide head 26 is provided with depending side flanges 27 formed with longitudinal guide grooves 28 for the movement and guidance of the flexible pattern carrier hereinafter described.

reac es 29 designates a live wire connection be tween the guide head 26 and the outflow end of the main switch above described.

30 designate a series of rectangular .frames flexibly connected together by open pivot eyes31 and hooks 32 on their respective ends, so as to be capable of ready assemblage, disassemblage and replacement. With a series of said frames connected together in an endless manner and mounted on the drums 7 and 8 they constitute the endless pattern carrier of the present construction. 1

33 designate undercut holding lugs arranged near the opposite end margins of the aforesaid frames 30 and adapted for holding engagement with pattern plates hereinafter described, after such plates have been slipped endwise into the holding channels of said ears.

34 designates a stop lug at the remote side of each frame 30 and adapted to stop and properly position a pattern plate when the same is slipped into holding engagement with the lugs 33 aforesaid.

35 designate the series of pattern plates heretofore referred to, of a rectangular form and each comprising a fiat plate of metal or like conducting material, the inner portion 36 of which 'is embossed with the desired letter, symbolor' character which it is intended to reproduce in the display field of the sign, with the plane edges of the plate adapted to have free sliding movement into place in the channels of the holding lugs 33,

aforesaid. 21 designates a yielding contact point or In the described construction and arrangement of parts, the main portion of a pattern plate 35 moves in a plane above and out of contact with the contact points or pins 21 heretofore described, while the depending or downwardly embossed letter or symbol portions of the pattern plate moves in a plane in line with said contact points or pins 21 and completes the individual circuits between the source of electric supply and the lamps in the display field of the sign, and establish an illuminated letter, symbol or character in said field corresponding withthe form orconfiguration of the depending portion or portions of the pattern plate.

The electro-motive force'passi'ng along the supply and return lines 18, 18' as shown in Fig. 3, is controlled by a switch 18" as usual. Thesupply line 18 extends to the motor 12 and has a branch line extending to the automatically operated switch 17 heretofore described, and from thence by a line 29 to the cross head 26 of conducting material, and

which in turn has electric contact with the.

pattern plates. 35 also of conducting material. With the described construction, the pattern plate 35 in superimposed relation to the bed plate20, of the apparatus, has elec-' trical contact with the series of individual insulated contact points 21 that are in the 35, and in that the entire seriesof contact zone of the symbol 36 on said pattern plate points 21 have the usual individual connection with similarly arranged lampsin the dlsplay field 37, an illuminated representation of said symbol is produced in said display field.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a. changeable electric sign of the type described, the combination of side standards, a cross head fixed on said stand: ards and provided with longitudinal side flanges, a. travelling carrier having guiding engagement with said flanges, pattern plates of conducting material mounted on said carrier and formed with downwardly project-- ing portions having symbol form, means for connecting said pattern plates with an electric source, a transverse bed fixed. on the aforesaid standards in spaced relation be neath said cross head, a plurality of contact pointscarried' in insulated relation to each other on said bed and having individual line connections extending to individual lamps ment with said flanges, pattern plates mounted on said carrier and formed down-.

wardly projecting portions having a symbol form, said carrier and pattern plates being formed of conducting material, a transverse bed of non-conducting material fixed on said standards in spaced relation beneath said crosshead, a plurality of contact points mounted in close insulated relationon said bed and having individual line connections extending to individual lamps in the display field of an electric sign, said contact points being arranged in the path of the depending portions of the pattern plates and adapted for electric contact therewith, and means for imparting intermittent travel-to said carrier.

3. In a changeable electric signof the type described, the combination of side standards, .a cross head fixed on said standards and provided with longitudinal side flanges, a travelling carrier having guiding engagem ent with said flanges, pattern plates of conducting material mounted on said carrier and formed witl downwardly projecting portions having symbol form, means for connecting said pattern plates with an electric source, a transverse bed fixed on the aforesaid standards in spaced relationbeneath said cross head, a plurality of contact points carried in insulated relation to each connections extending to individual-lamps contact points being arranged in thepath of the depending portions of the pattern plates and adapted for electric contact therewith in a superimposed relation of a pattern f plate, I and. means for imparting intermittent travel'to s'aid 'ca-rrier," a switch arranged in the electric line connection of the patternplates, and operating connections between the movable element of saidswitch and the means for imparting travel to the carrier. a 4. In a changeable electric sign of the type described,- the "combination of .side

stan'dards,across head fixed .on said standards and provided with longitudinal-side flanges,-a travelling carrier having guiding engagement with said flanges, pattern plates of conducting materialmounted on said car rier and formed with downwardly projecting portions having symbol form, means for connecting said pattern plates with an'electric source, a transverse bed fixed onthe aforesaid standards in s aced relation beneath said cross head, a plurality of-c'on'tact in the display fieldof an electric sign, said' other on said bed and having individual line points carried in insulated relation to each other on said bedand having-individual line connections extending to individual lamps in the display field of anelectric' sign, said contact, points being arrangedin the path of the depending portions of the pattern plates and adapted for electric contact therewith in a superimposed relation of a pattern plate, and means forimparting intermittent travel to said carrier, adrum mounted on said-standardsand forming a partial support for said carrier, a ratchet wheel and operating pawl associated with said drum, power driven means 'for imparting oscillation to said pawl, aswitch 'arranged in the electric hne connection of the a pattern plates, and operative connections between the movable element of said switch and the operative connections of said pawl. 5. In a changeable electric sign of the type described, the combination of side standards,

a cross head of conducting material fixed on said standards and provided with -longi-' 1 tudinal flanges at its sides, an electricsupply line connected to said cross head, a travelling carrier having guiding engage- 1 ment with said flanges, pattern lates mounted on said carrier and fofme with downwardly projecting portions having a'symbol form, said carrier and pattern plates being formed of conducting material, a transverse bed of non-conducting material fixed on said standards in spaced relationbeneath said cross head, a plurality of contact points mounted in close insulated relation on said bed and having individual line connections extending to individual lamps in the display field of an electric sign, said contact points being arrangedin the path'of the depending portions of the pattern plates and adapted for electric contact therewith, and means for imparting intermittent travel to said/carrier, a sw tch arranged in the electr1c line con-1 nection to the cross head aforesaid, and operative connections between the movable element of said switch and the means for 1m' parting traveljto the carrier.

'6. In a changeable electric sign of the type described, the combination. of side standards,

a cross head ofconducting material fixed on said standards and provided with longitudinal flanges atits sides, an electric supply line connected to said cross head, a travelling carin spaced relation beneath said cross head,

a plurality of contact points mounted in a n a I v close insulated relation on said bed and having lndividual line connections extending to individual lamps in the display field of an electric sign, said contact points being arranged in the path of the depending portions of the pattern plates and adapted for electric contact therewith, and means for imparting intermittent travel to said carrier, a drum mounted on said standards and forming a partial support for said carrier,

a ratchet wheel and operating pawl associatedwith'said drum, power driven means for imparting oscillation to said pawl, a

switch arranged in the electric line connection of the pattern plates, and operative connections between the movable element of said swit lzh and theoperative connections of said 7. In a changeable electric sign of the type described, the combination of side standards, a" cross head fixed on said standards and provided with longitudinal side flanges, a travelling carrier having guidingengagement with said flanges, pattern plates of conducting material mounted on said carrier and formed with downwardly projecting portions havingv symbol form, means for connecting said pattern plates with an electric source, a transverse bed fixed on the aforesaid'st'and- 'rier, a ratchet wheel an uaeopea field of an electric sign, said contact points being arranged in the path of the depending portions of the pattern plates and adaptedfor electric contact therewith in a superimposed relation of a pattern plate, and means for imparting intermittent travel to said carrier, a drum mounted on said standards and formlng a partial sup ort for said -carassociated with said drum, a power shaft mounted on said standards, a cam on saidshaft, a sliding head intermediate of said cam and the aforesaid pawl, a switch arranged in theelectric line connection of the pattern plates, and a'rod connection between i said slidinghead and the said pawl.

8. In a changeable electric sign of the type described, the combination of side standar s, a cross head of conductin material fixed on i said standards and provi ed with lon itudinal flanges at its sides, an electric supp y line connected to said cross head, a travelling carrier having guiding engagement with said flanges, pattern plates mounted on said carrier and formed with downwardly projecting portions having a symbol form, said carrier and pattern plates being formed of conducting material, a transverse bed of non-conductin material fixed on said standards in spaced relation-beneath said cross head, a plurality of contact points mounted in close insulated relation on said bed and having individual line connections extending .to individual lamps in-the displayfield of an electric sign, said contact points being arranged in the path of thedepending portions of the pattern plates and adapted for electric contact therewith, andmeans for imparting intermittent travel to; said carrier,

a drum mounted on said standards and forming a partial support for said carrier, a ratchet. wheel and operating pawl associated with said drum, 'a power shaft mounted on said standards, a cam on said shaft, a sliding head intermediate of said cam and the aforesaid pawl, a switch arranged in the electric line connection of the pattern lates,

anda rod connection between said siding head and the said pawl. v

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 23rd day of March 1922. ,4 v ANGELO rrroru.

operating pawl I 

